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Viewing Sunday For Former Sheriff Nick Navarro

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – A viewing was held Sunday in Ft. Lauderdale for former Broward Sheriff Nick Navarro who passed away last week.

Family, friends and law enforcement officers gathered at at The First Baptist Church at 301 E. Broward Boulevard. Monday a funeral service will be held at the church at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Lauderdale Memorial Park, located at 2001 SW 4th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

Navarro, who had been struggling with colon cancer, died Wednesday at age 81.

Navarro will be remembered for a long, distinguished law enforcement career, serving as a federal narcotics agent and a tough-minded Broward Sheriff.

His terms leading BSO are marked by a dedication to cleaning up Broward's streets of drugs and other crimes, transforming BSO into a nationally recognized law enforcement agency and battling with rap group 2 Live Crew.

Navarro also played an integral role in the pioneering TV show, "Cops", by allowing BSO deputies to be filmed fighting crime for the show's first season.

According to BSO, Navarro is credited with taking the agency with 1,600 employees and a $74 million budget, to more than 3,000 employees and a $200 million budget at the end of 1992. During his term, three Broward cities signed on for service from BSO deputies and staff.

Navarro started his own security firm, the Fort Lauderdale-based Navarro Group, after losing a re-election bid in 1993.

He is survived by his wife Sharron Navarro.

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